Stunted Stars and Stripes
- Wade
As I got of my bus on Monday morning, I noticed the American flag outside the One Financial building was flying, yet again, at half-staff. This is ridiculous, I thought. I mean, sure, I skinned my heel up really bad last Thursday and spent most of Friday limping around-- but I'm better now! There's no need to lower Old Glory on my account.
Oh. Yeah. The Pope. I knew that. (By the way, one sure-fire way to annoy your spouse is to sing a Prince-inspired "Papal Reign" several times during a long car ride. Trust me.) I'm not a narcissist, or at least I'm not one who flaunts that characteristic. But it seems like the flag is lowered so often these days that it's not out of the bounds of reality to think my shredded heel would merit such an act. How often has it been down lately?
Ahh, love that Internet.
- 04/02/05 - Governor Pawlenty orders flag flown at half-staff in honor of the fallen Minnesota soldier
- 04/02/05 - President Bush orders flag flown at half-staff in honor of the Pope
- 03/28/05 - Governor Pawlenty orders flag flown at half-staff in honor of victims of Red Lake shooting
- 02/23/05 - Governor Pawlenty orders flag flown at half-staff in honor of fallen Minnesota soldiers
- 01/03/05 - Governor Pawlenty orders flag flown at half-staff to honor victims of tsunami
- 12/07/04 - President Bush orders flag flown at half-staff in honor of the anniversary of Pearl Harbor
- 06/05/04 - President Bush orders flag flown at half-staff in honor of Ronald Reagan
Whew. Now, most of these events seem worthy of special honor and mourning. I certainly won't argue that the death of Minnesota soldiers doesn't deserve a great amount of recognition and reflection. But it seems that we, as a state and nation, have been tripping over ourselves for reasons to lower the flag for the past few months. Again... arguably legitimate reasons. But still...
(Warning: potential jingoism ahead.) To me, our flag represents all of the great things our country has endured, the great things it has done, and the great things it has to offer. (And when I refer to "the great things it has done," I mean on the macro, since-1776 level.) The lowered flag should represent times that we, as a nation, are truly hurting. On our knees. September 11th. Oklahoma City. The Columbia shuttle exploding, maybe. The death of a church leader-- granted the most important church leader in the world? Yeah, I get it. But still...
Every time someone sees the flag at half-staff, it means that the next time he/she sees it at half-staff it will mean a little bit less. So that (God forbid) the next time something as horrible as 9/11 happens, the lowered flag will be barely noticeable. Is it because of the tragedy on our soil? Or something, albeit horrible, half a world away?
I've never been the type to put too much stock in symbols. But I'm enough of a government geek to believe that the flag-- what it represents, anyway-- should be respected and treated properly. When we can justify lowering it to half-staff once a month... well, maybe it's time we take another look at the rules.
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feedback. Maybe we'll even run your letters in future Gambits. 'The Daily Gambit' is updated every weekday.
